Curb Your Ramadan Cravings

It happens to most of us—our fasting is going well and then suddenly we can’t get that cheeseburger out of our head. Here are some easy tips to reduce your cravings for unhealthy foods this Ramadan.

  • Boost your intake of high-fiber foods and whole grains. Be sure to include a fresh fruit salad as well as a wholesome lentil or bean soup in your Iftar. Also add a serving of whole grain cereals, such as oats, rye, basmati or brown rice, pasta and whole wheat breads to your Suhoor in the form of porridge or a wholesome sandwich.
  • Avoid excessive salt and sugar as too many additives found in processed or refined foods can trigger excessive thirst throughout the day. Also, as overconsumption of these foods can aggravate cravings, it makes sense to reduce your intake.
  • Skip the refined white flour, heavily processed or high sugar foods such as fluffy white breads, regular sodas, cookies and cakes as this will not only make you feel bloated and lethargic after fasting, it is mainly empty calories.
  • Reduce your intake of stimulants such as sugar, caffeine in tea/coffee and caffeinated soft drinks as these can spike blood sugar levels, and thus should be avoided.